As an extension of the “practicing resurrection” theme of Circle of Hope this Eastertide season, we’re using this week in Daily Prayer: Water to reflect together on the Christian path of finding our true selves in God alone.  We’re using a marvelous children’s story by Mercer Mayer to illustrate the path.  Welcome to Herbert the Timid Dragon.

How can you draw close to God when you are far from your own self? –– Augustine in Confessions

Today’s Bible reading 

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. — Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)

More thoughts for meditation from Mercer Mayer’s Herbert the Timid Dragon

 

Herbert is afraid still.  His ideals are getting crushed. How he expected life to work is nothing like what is happening.  But he is still having quite an impact on people around him in all sorts of ways that he doesn’t recognize.  He doesn’t know himself yet. What he thought was right, wasn’t so good…

Suggestions for action

Fear prompts a lot of our actions, even more than we might guess. We cough. We don’t mean to melt the armies around us, but when we act out of fear, things happen that we never imagined.  When we are prompted by fears of failure, we often can’t see what we are really doing.  Do you know what you do when you are afraid?  Can you tell when you are afraid? Ask God to reveal these things to you. Make notes in your journal about what you hear.

This week’s breath prayer (carry it with you today):

 (inhale) Show me You; (exhale) show me me.